Computerized systems and methods for automatic mode operation and control of a ceiling fan

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods of a novel framework for automatically and dynamically controlling an operational mode of a ceiling fan based on real-time detected information related to a location. The framework can sense a temperature in/at a location (e.g., a temperature proximate to the ceiling fan), in addition to other climate-related characteristics of the location (e.g., humidity, for example), and leverage such location-based climate information as input to control operation of the ceiling fan, and the mode's characteristics (e.g., speed and runtime). Occupancy data related to users' physical positioning respective to the ceiling fan can additionally be leveraged to control the operation mode. The framework can enable a reduction in resource expenditure (e.g., reduced energy usage and HVAC runtime, for example), as the ceiling fan can be utilized to maintain a location's temperature control without the need for operation of a HVAC system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a device, ceiling sensor data from a ceiling sensor at a location, the ceiling sensor being positioned within the location at a threshold distance to a ceiling fan, the ceiling sensor data indicating a current ceiling temperature in relation to a ceiling of the location;   identifying, by the device, a setpoint temperature for the location;   identifying, by the device, an operation mode, the operation mode corresponding to a cooling operation to be performed by the ceiling fan;   determining, by the device, climate conditions in the location;   determining, by the device, based on the climate conditions, operational characteristics of the operation mode, the operational characteristics corresponding to a spin rate of the ceiling fan during execution of the operation mode; and   executing, by the device, the operation mode according to the operational characteristics thereby causing the ceiling fan to perform the cooling operation at the spin rate.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a heat transfer variables for a user at the location;   determining an air flow velocity for the cooling operation;   executing a control algorithm based on the heat transfer variables and the air flow velocity; and   determining the spin rate based on execution of the control algorithm.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the spin rate corresponds to an amount of power provided to the ceiling fan, the amount of power determined via execution of the control algorithm. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the climate conditions in the location correspond a humidity measurement currently at the location. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 collecting, via at least one sensor at the location, occupancy data;   analyzing the occupancy data; and   determining, based on the analysis, whether the location currently has an occupant.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 bypassing operation of the ceiling fan when the location is determined to be absent an occupant.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the execution of the ceiling fan according to the operation mode and operational characteristics is performed when the location is determined to include an occupant. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining the operation mode based on the current ceiling temperature and the setpoint temperature, wherein the cooling operation corresponds to a temperature differential between the current ceiling temperature and the setpoint temperature.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the setpoint temperature corresponding to a temperature provided by a thermostat at the location. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the location comprises a definable physical area for which the ceiling fan is positioned. 
     
     
         11 . A device comprising:
 at least one processor configured to:
 receive ceiling sensor data from a ceiling sensor at a location, the ceiling sensor being positioned within the location at a threshold distance to a ceiling fan, the ceiling sensor data indicating a current ceiling temperature in relation to a ceiling of the location; 
 identify a setpoint temperature for the location; 
 identify an operation mode, the operation mode corresponding to a cooling operation to be performed by the ceiling fan; 
 determine climate conditions in the location; 
 determine, based on the climate conditions, operational characteristics of the operation mode, the operational characteristics corresponding to a spin rate of the ceiling fan during execution of the operation mode; and 
 execute the operation mode according to the operational characteristics thereby causing the ceiling fan to perform the cooling operation at the spin rate. 
   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine a heat transfer variables for a user at the location;   determine an air flow velocity for the cooling operation;   execute a control algorithm based on the heat transfer variables and the air flow velocity; and   determine the spin rate based on execution of the control algorithm.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the spin rate corresponds to an amount of power provided to the ceiling fan, the amount of power determined via execution of the control algorithm. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the climate conditions in the location correspond a humidity measurement currently at the location. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 collect, via at least one sensor at the location, occupancy data;   analyze the occupancy data; and   determine, based on the analysis, whether the location currently has an occupant.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 bypass operation of the ceiling fan when the location is determined to be absent an occupant.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the execution of the ceiling fan according to the operation mode and operational characteristics is performed when the location is determined to include an occupant. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine the operation mode based on the current ceiling temperature and the setpoint temperature, wherein the cooling operation corresponds to a temperature differential between the current ceiling temperature and the setpoint temperature.   
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium tangibly encoded with computer-executable instructions that when executed by a device, perform a method comprising:
 receiving, by the device, ceiling sensor data from a ceiling sensor at a location, the ceiling sensor being positioned within the location at a threshold distance to a ceiling fan, the ceiling sensor data indicating a current ceiling temperature in relation to a ceiling of the location;   identifying, by the device, a setpoint temperature for the location;   identifying, by the device, an operation mode, the operation mode corresponding to a cooling operation to be performed by the ceiling fan;   determining, by the device, climate conditions in the location;   determining, by the device, based on the climate conditions, operational characteristics of the operation mode, the operational characteristics corresponding to a spin rate of the ceiling fan during execution of the operation mode; and   executing, by the device, the operation mode according to the operational characteristics thereby causing the ceiling fan to perform the cooling operation at the spin rate.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 determining a heat transfer variables for a user at the location;   determining an air flow velocity for the cooling operation;   executing a control algorithm based on the heat transfer variables and the air flow velocity; and   determining the spin rate based on execution of the control algorithm.